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In 2023, the Las Vegas Raiders traded Darren Waller to the New York Giants, where the arrival of the Pro Bowl tight end was filled with high hopes.
However, Waller only caught one touchdown in 12 games and was injured. Waller decided to leave the NFL after his one-year stint with the Giants.
New York finished with a 6-11 record in 2023 and failed to qualify for the playoffs for a second straight season.
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New York Giants tight end Darren Waller in the tunnel before a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 25, 2023. (Eric Hartline/USA TODAY Sports)
Waller’s disappointing performance in 2023 was followed by the announcement of his retirement.
“I have decided to retire from football,” Waller wrote in a social media post in June 2024. “To God: what a journey, and thank you. We have come so much further than I could have ever imagined! I am so grateful for everything I have done. [people] I was able to connect and make memories along the way. We still have a lot of life left to live. I love you all. Peace.”
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But after missing the 2024 season, Waller returned to football in 2025. The 33-year-old has enjoyed a resurgence with the Miami Dolphins this season, scoring four receiving touchdowns in just three games.
During a recent appearance on “The Schultz Report” podcast, Waller took a moment to reflect on his time with Big Blue.
“There were other things I was going through in my life that made me feel like I needed to step away, which I thought was a wise decision,” Waller said of his mindset before his short-lived retirement.
Former New York Giants tight end Darren Waller returned to the NFL this season with the Miami Dolphins. (Vincent Carchietta/USA TODAY Sports)
Waller added that the Giants coaching staff failed to use him effectively.
“But at that point… the frustration maybe wasn’t directly related to that, because I’m going to do some dirty shit. You have to do that if you’re a good teammate. But I don’t really feel like I was being put in positions for what made me unique to shine. That’s where the frustration probably came more from.”
The former Georgia Tech star suggested he was asked to perform tasks more commonly associated with a fullback than a tight end. “I was closing the B gap, hitting linebackers and running with sticks. You’re not getting the best out of me doing that.”
Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller makes a catch at Bank of America Stadium on October 5 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Bob Donnan/Imagn Images)
The Giants still held Waller’s contractual rights after his retirement. The Dolphins sent a 2026 sixth-round pick to the Giants in exchange for Waller and a late-round draft pick.
The Dolphins have lost two straight games and enter a Week 7 matchup with the Cleveland Browns with a 1-5 record.
